Children's Home run by Aspris Children’s Services Limited in Herefordshire

Inspection report children‟s home: SC481209 1 SC481209 Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered for up to seven children who have complex needs which may be connected with autism spectrum disorders and complex associated difficulties. There are currently no children living in the home. The registered manager is in the process of completing his qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’..

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered person made the decision to close the home in January 2019 for a temporary period. The registered person plans to reopen the home in September 2019.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

During the period in which the home has been closed, a new manager has been registered with Ofsted. The new manager has reflected on shortfalls raised at the last inspection. He has put systems in place to ensure that there is close management oversight and scrutiny. Because no children have resided in the home, it has not been possible at this inspection to assess how well these systems will address previous shortfalls. This will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is in the process of being redecorated. Children’s bedrooms and communal Inspection report children‟s home: SC481209 2 areas are adequately furnished. However, one child’s bedroom window requires a window restrictor to be fitted and another child’s bedroom requires a blind-cord to be made safe. The manager has made arrangements for this work to be completed. All other aspects of health and safety are satisfactory.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers are in the process of recruiting a staff team in preparation for the home to reopen. There are currently enough staff to reopen the home and care for one child. The home does not plan to admit more than one child until enough staff have been recruited. This will ensure that children are safely cared for.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has not sent an updated version of the statement of purpose to Ofsted that reflects the number of staff who work in the home. As a result, placing authorities do not have an accurate and up-to-date view of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Given the temporary closure and the fact that no children are living in the home, children’s records and outcomes could not be examined. Therefore, many of the requirements raised at the last full inspection will be reviewed at the next scheduled inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 27/04/2017 Full Good 12/09/2016 Full Requires improvement

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)) 28/09/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC481209 3 The health and well-being standard is that children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well- being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10(1)(b)(c)) This is with specific reference to ensuring that young people are given access to appointments with an optician. 28/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) 28/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that ensures that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13(1)(2)(d)) 28/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 28/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child that include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3. The records must be kept up to date, and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36(a)) 28/09/2019

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Recommendations

 Ensure that just as in a family home, children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. Limits on privacy and access may only be put in place to safeguard each child in the home (regulation 21(c)(i)). Any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home, and any modifications to the environment of the home, must only be made where this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10). This is with reference to ensuring that bedroom door alarms are used only on the basis of individual safeguarding need, and that young people receive help and support that aim to reduce the need to rely on external forms of control.

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Recommendations

Inspection report children‟s home: SC481209 4

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Priory Education Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fifth Floor, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Inspector

Sue Young, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC481209 5 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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